August 16, 2006

A 9/11 Every Month

The figure was shocking in itself--3,438 civilian deaths in Iraq in the month of July from sectarian strife:

An average of more than 110 Iraqis were killed each day in July, according to the figures. The total number of civilian deaths that month, 3,438, is a 9 percent increase over the tally in June and nearly double the toll of January.

But consider. That is more civilian Iraqis killed in July than were killed in the 9/11 attacks, 2,997. And if July represented a 9% increase over June, then 3,125 civilians were killed in June, also more than in the 9/11 attacks. Is it any wonder that the Iraqis have not shown more support for the American invasion and occupation of their country?

Even as Bush professes that there will be no policy changes despite flagging support for the war at home and intensified criticism, the ever-astute William Arkin sees it differently. Noting that Ambassador Khalilizad made no mention of "democracy" in his latest remarks on Iraq, the new story line seems to be that we are fighting al Qaeda in Iraq. Arkin comments,

Having discussed this and debated it with many a Pentagon and administration thinker, Khalilizad's comments track precisely with where the Bush administration is truly headed: Out of Iraq.

The Bush adminstration's plan -- sensible and diabolical at the same time -- is to draw down U.S. forces in Iraq to Afghanistan-sized levels in order to fight "al Qaeda," the new enemy.

It is hard to discern such a strategy--or any strategy at all--in the latest news from Iraq, but our leaving could hardly make the situation worse, as the public has finally figured out. Consider this an open thread.

Jim E. -- You beat me to it. I believe Iraq's population is about 23 million, less than a tenth of ours. So we're looking at more than ten 9/11's there every month. Of course, there is a significant ethnocentric, not to say racist, thread in American political thought that discounts the value of non-American lives, thus the frequent assertion in many places (even at times in liberal blogs) that only about 2,600 have died in the Iraq War.

Advanced Biology: C
...George caused another commotion in the classroom when he decided to throw all the Arthropoda out the window so they could "break the shells of tyranny and give birth to democracy." After much consideration, I've decided I won't let George turn his back to me during my lectures on the flora and fauna of the Galápagos, and he is not allowed to refer to Darwin's Beagle as "the Snoopy ship."

Logic (in place of Calculus): C-
No! I'm sure George is plenty tired of hearing that word from my lips, but I simply cannot allow him to contort the rules, conventions, and basic laws of thought just because his proofs always "seem about right."...

History of the Middle East: Withdrawn

The Maliciously Maligned Monarchy: A+
What an excellent, attentive student! George sits with rapt attention through my lectures, taking copious notes and asking pointed, intelligent questions. He is frequently concerned with revolutions, and the threat they pose to those in power. While the beatniks and hippies want to tear down our great country, starting with the White House, young men like this make me yearn for the days when we said with pride, "All hail King George!"

t is hard to discern such a strategy--or any strategy at all--in the latest news from Iraq, but our leaving could hardly make the situation worse, as the public has finally figured out.

Yes. But we still have a hunk of the Democratic leadership who haven't figured this out. And one of the most lionized of the Democratic candidates for president in '04 - General Wesley Clark - still is unwilling to say it's time to leave. To do so, he says, would lead to "horrendous" consequences, essentially what he's been saying since August 2005 at a time when one could arguably make the case that there was no civil war in Iraq and 750 Americans who have since died there weren't yet dead.

What will it take before the elected Democrats and would-be presidents catch up with thee rank and file, and the rank and file of the majority of Americans, both Democrat and other?